On Thursday 27 April, the Journalism Safety Research Network (JSRN) hosted the fifth edition of the #JournoSafe FlashTalks focusing on journalism safety in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is the third of the regional FlashTalks to have taken place, with the first two focusing on journalism safety in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Africa. 

The session was opened by UNESCO Chair on Media Freedom, Journalism Safety and the Issue of Impunity, Professor Jackie Harrison. Dr Sara Torsner (CFOM Research Associate) and Dr Tamsin Mitchell (CFOM) chaired the session . The event saw members from civil society organisations and academia come together to discuss journalism safety and media freedom issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The session saw speakers from around the world take part. FlashTalks focused on a range of topics concerning journalism safety in countries across Latin America, including Colombia and Mexico. Topics covered in the FlashTalks included the impact on reporters of anti-press violence, issues of self-censorship, online harassment, workplace safety and journalists in exile. 

Following the FlashTalks, there was discussion of the Regional Working Group (RWG) that has been created focusing on journalism safety in Latin America and the Caribbean where academics and civil society organisation members can come together and discuss their work and network. More can be read about the RWG here.

Beneath is a list of all the speakers who participated in the event and the titles of their talks:

 

  • Ruben Gonzalez, Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla – Anti-press violence in Mexico and its impact on reporters, newsrooms, and society
  • Vanessa de Macedo Higgins Joyce, Texas State University – Targeting threats and barriers to journalists in Latin America where they increasingly are: online, against female journalists and outside of newsrooms
  • Grisel Salazar, Iberoamerican University – Coping with Anti-Press Violence in Global South Countries: Exploring Journalistic Responses and the Role of Contextual Factors
  • Summer Harlow, University of Houston – Defending Freedom of Expression amid Social Media Violence in Latin America
  • Marta-Milena Barrios, Universidad del Norte – Journalism in Colombia: Navigating Violence, Self-censorship, and Emotional Exhaustion
  • Tamsin Mitchell, Centre for Freedom of the Media – Transnational collaborative investigations into attacks on journalists: what impact in terms of security/ justice?
  • Janara Nicoletti, Journalistic Ethics Observatory/Federal University of Santa Catarina – Journalists’ protection mechanisms and violence response: how do media organizations support their employees in Latin America?
  • Jose Luis Benitez, Institute for War and Peace Reporting – Journalism in Exile: What are the implications for the safety of journalists when they are working in exile or in hostile authoritarian regimes?
  • Mireya Márquez Ramírez, Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México – Exploring knowledge gaps in journalism safety 
  • Carlos Lauria, Senior Consultant for Latin America, Committee to Protect Journalists – Weaponizing the Law: Legal Attacks on Media Freedom